Vincent Price said that his villains represented the dark underbelly of humanity
The actor gravitated toward darker roles.
Though everyone dreams of star billing, Vincent Price had little interest in portraying a hero. The actor believed that the real substance of a character couldn’t be seen in their heroics. Instead, the actor preferred to play darker characters.
“I sometimes feel that I’m impersonating the dark unconscious of the whole human race,” said Price, according to an article for The Baltimore Sun. “I know this sounds sick, but I love it.”
Price began his career as a character actor, appearing in films like Laura (1944) and Brigham Young (1940). These roles were taken in addition to Price’s work in radio on programs like The Saint. But in 1939, the actor began his foray into the horror genre with the 1939 film Tower of London. Directed by Rowland V. Lee, the role served as a gateway into an entirely new world.
Price began a working relationship with directors like William Castle, appearing in House on Haunted Hill (1959) and The Tingler (1959). The actor also appeared in horror films that have since become staples in the genre, including House of Usher (1960) and The Raven (1963).
Gravitating toward the villain gave Price an edge that few actors are afforded. “The best parts in movies are the heavies,” said Price, according to an article in The Blade.
Of course, Price wasn’t always the villain, even in horror films. In the 1958 film, The Fly, the actor portrays a sympathetic brother to the title character, played by David Hedison.
However, Price maintained that of all the archetypes, villains were his favorite.
“The hero is usually someone who has really nothing to do,” said the actor. “He comes out on top, but it’s the heavy who has all the fun.”
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